Office



(No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. JEWELL. FILE BOX.

N0-L4'08,9'78. Patented Aug. .13, 1889-.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

M. R. JEWELL.

v FILE Box. No. 408,978. Patented AugQ 13, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

MAJOR ROMEYN JEIVELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR .TO THE OFFICE SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 408,978, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed November 6, 1888. Serial No. 290,119. (No model.)

[ all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAJOR ROMEYN JEW- ELL, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented cer tain lmprpvements in File-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that class of letter-files in which a box or holder is provided with a rigid end or wall, against which the papers are compressed by means of a movable follower-board supported by a lever, in essentially the manner represented. in Letters Patent to J. O. Lang, dated December '7,

The first improvement relates to the mannor of constructing the base of the metallic box; the second improvement relates to the details of the clamping device; the third improvement to means for locking the hinged end of the file-box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved box, its hinged end being shown in an open position. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 1 1 of the preceding figure. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, a port-i011 being broken away to reduce the size of the figure. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation illustrating the manner in which the follower-board is unlocked and tipped backward. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the two parts of the clamping device separated from each other. Fig. 6 is aperspective view showing the metal blanks from which the parts of the clamping device are formed. Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the devices for locking the hinged end.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box or receptacle; B, the follower-board therein. The body of the box consist-s of a baseplate a, a Vertical end plate I), the two formed from a single sheet of metal bent in the proper manner and stiffened by longitudinal ribs 0, formed therein. I

0 represents two horizontal side bars or guides riveted at their forward ends through the front I), and extended thence horizontally to the rear end, where they are bent downward and fastened to the base. I preferably form the twobars and their intermediate connecting-piece c in a single piece of metal, as shown in the drawings, this arrangement giving the parts increased strength and cansing them to remain more securely in position. This feature is not, however, claimed as part of the present invention.

Along the center of the base, from one end to the other, I secure firmly in place a metal rail or guide D, formed by rolling or stamping a sheet-metal bar or strip in such manner as to give the same the sectional formshown in Fig. 2, its central portion being depressed to bear upon the base or washers thereunder, while its two edges are elevated, that the clamping device may engage thereunder.

In order to raise the surface of the bottom flush with the upper surface of the guide-rail D, and thus give'proper support to the lower ends of the papers, I attach to the bottom two longitudinal metal strips f, formed of sheet metal, each with its two longitudinal edges turned downward to bear upon the base-plate of the box, as shown. These two strips f,which present flat upper surfaces, are secured firmly to the base in any suitable manner. I prefer to attach them at the front end by rivets f, fastened through the upright end, as shown in Fig. 3, and to secure them at the rear end by vertical rivets f which pass downward through the cross connection 0 of the side bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in such manner as to bind the three parts together.

The follower-board is connected to the cen tral guide D by a clamping devicesuch as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6consisting of a plate g, fixed to the follower-board, and a lever 72., pivoted to said plate. The plate g is secured firmly to the back face of the follower-board and has at its lower end two arms 9, which extend forward and downward beneath the board and below the edges of the guide-rail, where they are provided with i11- wardly-projecting studs 9 to engage beneath the respective edges of the rail, this connection permitting the board to slide freely along the rail, and also to tip from a perpendicular position to a backwardly-inclined position, such as shown in Fig. 4.

The lever h is connected to cheeks or lips on the back of the plate g by a horizontal pivot-pin g and extends below said pivot, as

shown. \Vhen the lever is turned upward, its lower extremity bearing on the guide-rail lifts the pivot and compels the follower-board to assume an upright position; but as the lever is turned downward, so that its end is carried from under the pivot, the followenboard is permitted to tip back, as shown in Fig. 4.

I form the parts g and h of sheet metal, each complete in one piece. The blank for the part 9 is orignially of the form represented 111 Fig. 6, being punched out in flat form and subsequentlybent in the direction of the dotted lines to its operative form. The lever h is also formed in the first instance as shown in Fig. 6, and bent as shown by the dotted lines therein, its two sides being turned up at right angles to its face in order to give it the necessary stiffness and to form ears to receive the pivot. The lower projecting end is indented longitudinally, as shown at h, in order to give it the requisite strength and prevent it from yielding or breaking when being turned upward under strains.

When the boxes are used with the end Z) at the front or outside of the case or cabinet containing them, it is unnecessary to provide them with any wall or end piece at the opposite end. \Vhen, however, they are used, as is sometimes the case, with the end Z) at the rear, I provide them at the opposite extremity with an end plate I), hinged to the base, so thatit may be turned upward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, or turned downward, as shown by full lines, to give more convenient access to the interior of the box and to admit of the follower-board being tipped backward and drawn to the extremity of the box. This hinged end I provide with a locking device consisting of a cross-bar b applied to its inner face and attached to a rotary spindle or thumb-piece Z1 which projects through the plate to the outside. Vixen the plate is in its operative position, the bar I) is turned by means of the thumb-piece to engage the side bars C, as shown in Fig. 7. By giving it a partial rotation it may be unlocked.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an improvement in the construction of sheet-metal, file-boxes, the box or receptacle having the sheet-metal base-plate, in combination with the railor guide I) for the clamp ing device and the side plates f, rising flush with. the guide, said guide and side plates secured upon the base-plate, substantially as de scribed.

2. As an improvement in the construction of sheet-metal file-boxes, the combination of the sheet-metal base-plate with the two flanged plates j, secured longitudinally thereon along its opposite edges.

As an improvement in sheet-metal fileboxes, the sheet-metal base-plate, in combination with the central rail or guide mounted thereon, the follower mounted on said rail, and the two flanged metal plates f, secured upon the base-plate along its opposite edges.

at. In a metallic file-box, the fiat base-plate,

in combination with the longitudinal shcetmetal guide-rail depressed at the middle and raised at the edges, a follower, and a clamping device connecting the follower with the rail.

5. A sheet-metal file-box having .its base composed of a single sheet of metal a, thickened and stiffened by two longitudinal strips of metal f, having downwardlyextending flanges at their edges and secured at their ends rigidly to the base-plate.

(3. In a sheet-metal file-box, the side bars 0 0 and the cross member 0', integral therewith, in combination with the base plate a, the plates f, and the rivets connecting said parts, as shown.

7. The plate g, for connecting the follower to the guide rail, formed of a single sheet of metal cut and bent and shown to present the portions g g 8. The locking-lever 71, cut and bent from a single sheet of metal, as described and shown, and presenting the stiffening-flanges along its edges and the lip at its lower end.

9. The file-box having the side bars and the hinged end, in combination with the locking-bar b and its rotary spindle attached to the end piece, as shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 17th day of March, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

MAJOR ROMEYN JEWELL.

\Vitnesses:

(I. II. I PTON,

EDWARD J. WARD. 

